title: Vancomycin-resistant enterococci.
abstract: Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) consist mainly of Enterococcus faecalis and E faecium, the latter mostly hospital-acquired. In addition, E gallinarum and E casseliflavus are intrinsically vancomycin-resistant and are community-acquired. VRE have become common in many hospitals throughout the world and, once established, are very difficult to eradicate. VRE are difficult to treat; therefore, infection control measures in hospitals are of prime importance in preventing the establishment of these pathogens. Most severe VRE infections will need combination therapy because many of the effective antimicrobial agents, when used alone, have only a bacteriostatic effect.
authors.affiliation: Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, 543-645 Bannatyne Ave, Basic Medical Building, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0J9, Canada. Electronic address: rubinste@cc.umanitoba.ca.
authors.forename: Ethan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rubinstein
authors.forename: Yoav
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Keynan
mesh_terms: D000617:Aminoglycosides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000187:drug effects*; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020713:Vancomycin Resistance; D047090:beta-Lactams / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000617:Aminoglycosides; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D047090:beta-Lactams; D014640:Vancomycin
keywords: Critical care; Enterococcus; Gram-positive cocci; Infection; Resistant pathogen; Vancomycin